AWESOME post! But, you neglected to mention that although they're future posts, they won't be TOO far in the future. All of those posts will take place PRIOR to any of the people posting them actually getting their hands on one and the system through the proper paces. Posts like that are all vaguely reminiscent of an old saying about judging, books, and covers...

It will be interesting, I hope they either get it right or will sell enough to come out with future models. It is a very hard thing to get right. It has to be thin, have good battery life, a big sensor, good fast lenses... But it will have less functionality than a G1X (no IS or zoom, and now dust problems) And I would have to worry about security guards at events preventing me from bringing in a camera with a removable lens...

I would think the 50 f/1.8 would be a good lens for this from a size/weight/speed point of view.

Quite frankly, I would rather see them improve the G1X line to include a f/2 lens (while making it smaller/thinner in other parts). I already know that if I am going to use my EF lenses, I will bring the 5Dm2 with me.

Welcome back CR Guy, ‘above and beyond the call’ if you ask me. Anyway I think you’ve posted the really important thing here and your not talking it up. Lots of disappointment in the offing. It’s not going to be a trad rangefinder design happy days for Leica/ Fuji et al though. Guess you have to respect Canon market research though I suspect they are right.

I would want a true canon competitor to the NEX line, specifically the NEX-7. The lens selection on the NEX is what is holding me back. Of course if Canon released a series of cameras for teh different niches like Sony did, that would be awesome (NEX-3, NEX-5, NEX-7, etc.)

Bottom line, if Canon makes a more pro mirrorless body, with an EF adapter option, and a decent selection of compact/small/pancake lenses, I'm all inM

Canon could have come into the mirrorless fray at the end and swept everyone off their feet....but from what I am reading this "big" mirrorless release is going to be a real yawner. In one word: Mediocre. (and then everything that lol said!)

It's to be hoped that it isn't too much like the Nikon V1, it's been a disaster! Last time I went to the camera shop they hated them few customers wanted them, but those who did often returned them. Never have I seen such a poor review on DPreview.

For me the look aren't as important as image quality, and auto focus speed. There are a few other things I would like but I'll wait & see.

They appeared in discount stores like Costco only a few weeks after hitting the market, and Nikon Sr Managers are very defensive when asked about them. There must be a reason.

I handled an OMD EM5 today and sat the body next to my old G11 and have to say that with just a pancake lens I think I might have gone for it, it's actually smaller than a G11 but the size of the kit zoom just lets it's down -plus of course the body plus a pancake lens are going to cost 3x a G12!

What if Canon's entry into the mirrorless zone blows away the Oly m43? Will I be tempted* or still hang on for a G14 at Photokina?

While I'm a fan of the DSLR, I'm very interested in seeing what Canon does with their first mirrorless entry. Based on the previous rumors here, it will be more consumer grade than professional grade, so I don't expect it to have all the frills that the upper end Nikon and Sony mirrorless entries do.

It will be interesting to see how competitive Canon actually gets though...might be telling about the future of Canon DSLR in this more competitive and rapidly advancing market. Will they use FPPD-AF, or a form of FPPD+CD AF (like they demonstrated with the 650D)? How many AF points? What kind of sensor...APS-C sized? Backlit? Large pixels or small pixels? EVF, and what kind of functionality? It'll be interesting, good or bad, to see what Canon releases. I really hope its very competitive, but I expect it to be rather middle ground...neither "sucky" nor "great".